Intro to characterization for a college writing class, with examples from literature and popular culture.

1. What happened to you Mr. White?
If the main character and their motives
are believable, we follow the plot.
For. Years.

2. This Lecture in Essay 2
In Essay #2, which we workshop in Week 7 and turn in the following
Monday, we pick apart how a literary element works in one piece from
Weeks 4-7. You choose the element. If you like and understand this
lecture, you’ll do well with analyzing character. Use ideas and terms
you find here to write a well-developed essay. See the last slide for
questions to generate ideas and structure your essay.
Choose your Essay 2 element from all those we’ve studied: Tone,
Symbolism, Theme, Plot, Character. You could also use Setting (Chapter
5) or Narration and Point of View (Chapter 3), or look ahead to two
elements we study later in the course, Figurative Language and Style.
Introduction to Character. ENGL 151L 2

3. The Challenge
Writers have a real challenge. With words alone they try to create characters who are
distinguishable from each other and consistent. But those characters have to be
interesting too, which means they have to change. That change must be believable. And
so we need to know their motives and to see deep enough into their hearts and minds to
believe they can change. Writers are psychologists, philosophers, sociologists,
anthropologists and historians all rolled into one. Critics are still studying and readers still
enjoying Jane Austin’s books. And directors are still basing films on them. Because her
characters are so real. How did she DO it? We’ll look at that in this lecture.

4. The Inciting Incident
opens the door to character change
As the Intro to Plot lecture mentioned, Stephen King
said he starts his books by simply putting a character
in a situation – a crisis, a problem to solve, an inciting
incident. That’s usually the start of the story and the
plot. Breaking Bad opens with a high school teacher
receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis. This inciting
incident starts the ball rolling on massive changes in
his life. For the older brother in “Sonny’s Blues,”
learning his brother has been arrested starts him on a
journey of personal change and growth. Learning her
husband was killed in a train crash rocks the world of
the main character in “The Story of an Hour” and sets
her on a brief intense internal journey. (Turns out he
wasn’t on the train that crashed but the news both
times is a catalyst for change).
In short, life happens and it changes people. That’s
what most literary writers are interested in. If you can
think of a film or novel where little happens and the
main character doesn’t change, I’d love to chat about
it with you, especially if it was still interesting to you.
Introduction to Character. ENGL 151L 4
Though very short on the page
and in the time it takes, “The
Story of an Hour” has two
emotional climaxes.

5. Plot and Character not working together
TV plots rich in action & carnage can interfere
with plausible character development. Those
dramatic and deadly finales boost ratings
though. In TV, plot is often king (and sits on
the iron throne).
But many viewers critique TV shows based on
how believable the characters are. And they
may not like it when a character changes
suddenly to suit the plot.
Walking Dead fans joke that if a character
suddenly becomes much more sympathetic
and likable, they have a week to live. Maybe
two.
Introduction to Character. ENGL 151L
5
In the episodes before she
dies, Andrea from The
Walking Dead got a quick
character make-over. Re-
united with the group that
had left her behind, she
risked her life to protect
them from The Governor.
We loved her again. Her
last scene was all the more
tragic and dramatic.

6. Motive,
Free Will &
Character
Fans of Breaking Bad enjoyed debating Mr.
White’s true motives. He turned to dealing
drugs because he wanted to leave something
for his family. But does he continue in the
criminal life for that reason? Or does he enjoy
the excitement and power? Did the diagnosis
bring out a hidden part of him?
That’s part of what makes him interesting. We
wonder who he is at his core – a caring father
and husband or a bold battler who loves living
on the edge? Or somehow both.
What makes a person change, or resist change?
How do different people deal with crisis, threat,
opportunity and gifts? Do we discover ourselves
or make ourselves as we deal with life’s hills and
valleys?
Introduction to Character. ENGL 151L 6

7. Introduction to Character. ENGL 151L 7
1. Names &
nicknames
Names suggest character. Darth Vader. Heisenberg. Black Panther. Albus
Dumbledore. Mary Poppins. June-May. Lane A Dean Jr. Performers change
names to fit the public persona they want to present. John Legend was born
John Stephens. Helen Mirren’s birth name was Ilyena Vasilievna Mironov.
2. How they act
under pressure
The way a character deals with obstacles & conflicts reveals much, maybe
even to the character themselves, as is true with life.
3. Their
Thoughts
In fiction, some types of narration let us hear characters’ thoughts. In plays,
monologues may do the same. We learn of fears, doubts, hopes, dreams,
biases, delusions, realizations, etc.
4. Physical
appearance, esp
the face
Physical descriptions reveal inner qualities as well as emotional states: a
smile, a laugh, a blush, a nervous tic, posture, body language, even clothes
and accessories.
5. What others
say about them
The narrator may tell us what to think of a character. (This is more common
in 19th Century Lit, when values were clear and agreed upon.) Other
characters opinions and reactions tell us a lot too.
6. What
Influenced them
In their memories or flashbacks we may find out about people, experiences,
books, music, jobs, places etc. shaped a character.
The 6 Main Ways Writers Bring Characters to Life

8. Use slide 7:
One way to
organize a
character
analysis
essay
Slide 7 gives you a tool to pick apart
characterization in a story. You could use each of
the 6 criteria as a paragraph/section of your
essay. See page 95 for a few more criteria that
might apply to your piece. Which do your author
rely on?
What if the author doesn’t use a criteria at all?
Fine, skip that one, or discuss the absence if you
feel it’s a weakness or reveals something about
the way the piece is put together. For example,
maybe we don’t get much #5 (what others say
about a character) because the story is told by
them (known as 1st person narration).
What’s the best order to put the criteria in? Go
from what you decide is the least important one
to most important.
Introduction to Character. ENGL 151L 8

9. Anger, joy, grief, determination
Descriptions and close-ups of facial expressions reveal so much
about what a character is feeling and how they’re changing. Here
is Viola Davis showing how it’s done, from the film version of
August Wilson’s play Fences. In your analysis, look for
descriptions of faces.
Introduction to Character. ENGL 151L 9

10. Find a Face
For 10 Bonus Points, find in any piece we’ve read so far a good description
of a character’s facial expressions. Hint: Baldwin is good at this. Here is
Charles Dickens value-laden description of the infamous Ebenezer Scrooge:
Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grind-stone,
Scrooge! . . . The cold within him froze his old
features, nipped his pointed nose, shriveled his cheek,
stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips
blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. A
frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and
his wiry chin. He carried his own low temperature always
about with him; he iced his office in the dogdays; and
didn't thaw it one degree at Christmas.
Introduction to Character. ENGL 151L 10

11. Types of Characters
Covered in more detail on pp 95-97
The Type Description
Protagonist
(hero)
Leading character. Might be the “good guy,” larger than life, but in most
modern literature is ordinary. Usually dynamic/round.
Antagonist
(villain)
Opponent of the main character. Blocks them in some way. Could be
dynamic/round but also Static/flat or even a stock character.
Dynamic/
Round
Changes because of the action of the plot. Interesting. Raises questions
we want answered. May surprise us.
Static/Flat Does not change. Could still be interesting. May have one or two qualities
easily summarized. May change somewhat but no big surprises.
Stock and
Archetypes
Stereotypes, usually in “formula” fiction (detective, romance, sci-fi). The
tough newspaper editor, mean boss, goofy grandparent, loyal servant,
sadistic drill sergeant, snarky android. With a good writer / actor stock
characters can come alive.
Introduction to Character. ENGL 151L 11

12. Character Questions to generate ideas
for an Analysis Essay or Journal Post
• Did I expect to be interested in the main character or not? Did I get
what I expected? If not, what happened?
• Did a choice a character made surprise me? Were their motives
clear, believable?
• Was there a minor character who played a key role? It’s fine to
focus on just one character, even a minor one, if you have things to
say.
• What characterization methods does this author rely on?
• What scene reveals the main character’s central conflict?
• Who changes the most? Why? Who fails to change?
• What plot events reveal who the main character is down deep?
• Did I like the protagonist more or less by the end? Why?
Also see “Questions about Character” on page 101
Introduction to Character. ENGL 151L 12

13. 2 Bonus Opportunities
10-20 each (yes, you can do both)
1. Use the 6 criteria on slide 7 to analyze a fictional
character you know well, from any genre or medium. For
the full 20, give examples, either quotes or links to film
clips. If you can’t link to a film clip re-tell the scene(s) in
question.
2. Using a book, film or TV series you know well, put all
the main characters and important minor ones in the
chart on Slide 11. Some characters may end up in 2
categories (a dynamic protagonist for example). If you
feel you need a new category or character type, go ahead
and make it. Briefly explain it.
Introduction to Character. ENGL 151L 13

14. Help pairing elements and pieces
I’ve made a separate mini-lecture for that. And
feel free to also email me. If you’re feeling the
freedom is too much, I’ll be happy to suggest a
pair for you -- easy, medium or hard.
And there’s a forum thread this week for
discussing possible pairs. Stop by to get or offer
help.
Introduction to Character. ENGL 151L 14